Method and system for congestion control in a fibre channel switch

ABSTRACT

A method and system for routing fibre channel frames using a fibre channel switch element is provided. The switch element includes logic for comparing a credit counter value with a first threshold value to enable a credit limiting feature; and a first counter that receives a signal after a frame has departed from a transmit segment and maintains a maximum value for a certain duration that is based on the first threshold value. The method includes enabling a credit limiting feature, wherein frame transmission from a certain source is delayed when the credit limiting feature is enabled. The first counter is incremented every time a frame departs and holds its maximum value based on the threshold value. When the first counter is at the maximum value, a credit-limiting signal is used to enable the credit limiting feature by setting a control bit in a control register.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§ 119(e)(1) to the following provisional patent applications:

-   -   Filed on Sep. 19, 2003, Ser. No. 60/503,812, entitled “Method         and System for Fibre Channel Switches”;     -   Filed on Jan. 21, 2004, Ser. No. 60/537,933 entitled “Method And         System For Routing And Filtering Network Data Packets In Fibre         Channel Systems”;     -   Filed on Jul. 21, 2003, Ser. No. 60/488,757, entitled “Method         and System for Selecting Virtual Lanes in Fibre Channel         Switches”;     -   Filed on Dec. 29, 2003, Ser. No. 60/532,965, entitled         “Programmable Pseudo Virtual Lanes for Fibre Channel Systems”;     -   Filed on Sep. 19, 2003, Ser. No. 60/504,038, entitled” Method         and System for Reducing Latency and Congestion in Fibre Channel         Switches;     -   Filed on Aug. 14, 2003, Ser. No. 60/495,212, entitled “Method         and System for Detecting Congestion and Over Subscription in a         Fibre channel Network”;     -   Filed on Aug. 14, 2003, Ser. No. 60/495, 165, entitled “LUN         Based Hard Zoning in Fibre Channel Switches”;     -   Filed on Sep. 19, 2003, Ser. No. 60/503,809, entitled “Multi         Speed Cut Through Operation in Fibre Channel Switches”;     -   Filed on Sep. 23, 2003, Ser. No. 60/505,381, entitled “Method         and System for Improving bandwidth and reducing Idles in Fibre         Channel Switches”;     -   Filed on Sep. 23, 2003, Ser. No. 60/505,195, entitled “Method         and System for Keeping a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop Open         During Frame Gaps”;     -   Filed on Mar. 30, 2004, Ser. No. 60/557,613, entitled “Method         and System for Congestion Control based on Optimum Bandwidth         Allocation in a Fibre Channel Switch”;     -   Filed on Sep. 23, 2003, Ser. No. 60/505,075, entitled “Method         and System for Programmable Data Dependent Network Routing”;     -   Filed on Sep. 19, 2003, Ser. No. 60/504,950, entitled “Method         and System for Power Control of Fibre Channel Switches”;     -   Filed on Dec. 29, 2003, Ser. No. 60/532,967, entitled “Method         and System for Buffer to Buffer Credit recovery in Fibre Channel         Systems Using Virtual and/or Pseudo Virtual Lane”;     -   Filed on Dec. 29, 2003, Ser. No. 60/532,966, entitled “Method         And System For Using Extended Fabric Features With Fibre Channel         Switch Elements”;     -   Filed on Mar. 4, 2004, Ser. No. 60/550,250, entitled “Method And         System for Programmable Data Dependent Network Routing”;     -   Filed on May 7, 2004, Ser. No. 60/569,436, entitled “Method And         System For Congestion Control In A Fibre Channel Switch”;     -   Filed on May 18, 2004, Ser. No. 60/572,197, entitled “Method and         System for Configuring Fibre Channel Ports” and

Filed on Dec. 29, 2003, Ser. No. 60/532,963 entitled “Method and System for Managing Traffic in Fibre Channel Switches”.

The disclosure of the foregoing applications is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fibre channel systems, and more particularly, to congestion control by using a credit-limiting feature for frame transmission in a fibre channel switch.

2. Background of the Invention

Fibre channel is a set of American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standards, which provide a serial transmission protocol for storage and network protocols such as HIPPI, SCSI, IP, ATM and others. Fibre channel provides an input/output interface to meet the requirements of both channel and network users.

Fibre channel supports three different topologies: point-to-point, arbitrated loop and fibre channel fabric. The point-to-point topology attaches two devices directly. The arbitrated loop topology attaches devices in a loop. The fibre channel fabric topology attaches host systems directly to a fabric, which are then connected to multiple devices. The fibre channel fabric topology allows several media types to be interconnected.

Fibre channel is a closed system that relies on multiple ports to exchange information on attributes and characteristics to determine if the ports can operate together. If the ports can work together, they define the criteria under which they communicate.

In fibre channel, a path is established between two nodes where the path's primary task is to transport data from one point to another at high speed with low latency, performing only simple error detection in hardware.

Fibre channel fabric devices include a node port or “N_Port” that manages fabric connections. The N_port establishes a connection to a fabric element (e.g., a switch) having a fabric port or F_port. Fabric elements include the intelligence to handle routing, error detection, recovery, and similar management functions.

A fibre channel switch is a multi-port device where each port manages a simple point-to-point connection between itself and its attached system. Each port can be attached to a server, peripheral, I/O subsystem, bridge, hub, router, or even another switch. A switch receives messages from one port and automatically routes it to another port. Multiple calls or data transfers happen concurrently through the multi-port fibre channel switch.

Fibre channel switches use memory buffers to hold frames received and sent across a network. Associated with these buffers are credits, which are the number of frames that a buffer can hold per fabric port.

Fibre Channel switch fabrics can have arbitrary topologies and a mixture of frame traffic where frame source (s) and destinations operate at different speeds. Quality of service and congestion management is desirable to optimize switch performance.

In Fibre Channel, buffer-to-buffer credit mechanism is used to control frame flow on a Fibre Channel link to prevent the inability to deliver any frames because of lost R_RDYs or lost frames. The R_RDY primitive is used to indicate whether a receive port has credit to receive frames.

FIG. 2 illustrates the congestion problem in conventional fibre channel switches. In FIG. 2, Host 201 sends data to target 207 and host 202 sends data to target 208, via switches 203 and 206 having ports 204 and 205. Target 208 link operates at 1 gigabit/second and all other links operate at higher rates (for example, 2 Gb/S, 4 Gb/S, 8 Gb/S or 10 Gb/s.

If both host 201 and 202 send data as fast as they can, then eventually all receive buffers in port 205 will get filled up with frames destined for target 208, which in this example operates at the slowest speed compared to the other links. Hence port 204 will not be able to transmit at its bandwidth and cause congestion in the overall system.

The present fibre channel switches and standard do not provide a mechanism where “available credit” can be used for congestion control and for managing frame flow within a Fabric. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that allows congestion control based on available credit or “credit limitations”.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for routing fibre channel frames using a fibre channel switch element is provided. The method includes enabling a credit limiting feature, wherein frame transmission from a certain source is delayed when the credit limiting feature is enabled.

A credit counter value is compared to a threshold value and the comparison is used to enable the credit-limiting feature. A counter is incremented every time a frame departs and holds its maximum value based on the threshold value. When the counter is at the maximum value, a credit-limiting signal is used to enable the credit limiting feature by setting a control bit in a control register.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for routing fibre channel frames using a fibre channel switch element is provided. The method includes, determining if a credit limiting feature is enabled; incrementing (increasing) a counter value after a R_RDY is received when a frame departs; comparing the counter value with a threshold value; and blocking frame transmission from a particular source based on the comparison between the counter value and the threshold value.

A control bit from a control register enables the credit limiting feature. The counter value increments if a VC_RDY is received. Also, the threshold value is programmed in a register.

In another aspect of the present invention, a fibre channel switch element for routing fibre channel frames. The switch element includes logic for comparing a credit counter value with a first threshold value to enable a credit limiting feature; and a first counter that receives a signal after a frame has departed from a transmit segment and maintains a maximum value for a certain duration that is based on the first threshold value.

The switch element further includes logic for generating a credit limiting signal to set a control bit value that enables the credit limiting feature; a blocking counter that maintains a count for a number of R-RDYs that are received after a frame has departed; and logic for comparing the blocking counter value with a second threshold value and generating a signal for blocking frame transmission from a particular source port based on the comparison.

This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof concerning the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features and other features of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of a preferred embodiment. In the drawings, the same components have the same reference numerals. The illustrated embodiment is intended to illustrate, but not to limit the invention. The drawings include the following Figures:

FIG. 1A shows an example of a Fibre Channel network system;

FIG. 1B shows an example of a Fibre Channel switch element, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 1C shows a block diagram of a 20-channel switch chassis, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 1D shows a block diagram of a Fibre Channel switch element with sixteen GL_Ports and four 10 G ports, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 1E-1/1E-2 (jointly referred to as FIG. 1E) show another block diagram of a Fibre Channel switch element with sixteen GL_Ports and four 10 G ports, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an example of an architecture, which can use the credit-limiting feature, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A/3B (jointly referred to as FIG. 3) show a block diagram of a GL_Port, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A/4B (jointly referred to as FIG. 3) show a block diagram of XG_Port (10 G) port, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic for generating and using the credit limiting feature, according to one aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of executable steps for routing frames using the credit-limiting feature, according to one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Definitions:

The following definitions are provided as they are typically (but not exclusively) used in the fibre channel environment, implementing the various adaptive aspects of the present invention.

“E-Port”: A fabric expansion port that attaches to another Interconnect port to create an Inter-Switch Link.

“F_Port”: A port to which non-loop N_Ports are attached to a fabric and does not include FL_ports.

“Fibre channel ANSI Standard”: The standard, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes the physical interface, transmission and signaling protocol of a high performance serial link for support of other high level protocols associated with IPI, SCSI, IP, ATM and others.

“FC-1”: Fibre channel transmission protocol, which includes serial encoding, decoding and error control.

“FC-2”: Fibre channel signaling protocol that includes frame structure and byte sequences.

“FC-3”: Defines a set of fibre channel services that are common across plural ports of a node.

“FC-4”: Provides mapping between lower levels of fibre channel, IPI and SCSI command sets, HIPPI data framing, IP and other upper level protocols.

“Fabric”: The structure or organization of a group of switches, target and host devices (NL_Port, N_ports etc.).

“Fabric Topology”: This is a topology where a device is directly attached to a fibre channel fabric that uses destination identifiers embedded in frame headers to route frames through a fibre channel fabric to a desired destination.

“FL_Port”: A L_Port that is able to perform the function of a F_Port, attached via a link to one or more NL_Ports in an Arbitrated Loop topology.

“Inter-Switch Link”: A Link directly connecting the E_port of one switch to the E_port of another switch.

Port: A general reference to N. Sub.--Port or F.Sub.--Port.

“L_Port”: A port that contains Arbitrated Loop functions associated with the Arbitrated Loop topology.

“N-Port”: A direct fabric attached port.

“NL_Port”: A L_Port that can perform the function of a N_Port.

“R_RDY”: Flow control primitive signal used for establishing credit. Receiving an R_RDY frame increases credit, while sending a R_RDY frame decreases credit.

“Switch”: A fabric element conforming to the Fibre Channel Switch standards.

“VL” (Virtual Lane (or Channel)): A dedicated portion of the data path between a source and destination port each having independent buffer to buffer flow control.

“VC_RDY”: Primitive for establishing credit if the switch uses virtual lanes.

Fibre Channel System:

To facilitate an understanding of the preferred embodiment, the general architecture and operation of a fibre channel system will be described. The specific architecture and operation of the preferred embodiment will then be described with reference to the general architecture of the fibre channel system.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a fibre channel system 100 implementing the methods and systems in accordance with the adaptive aspects of the present invention. System 100 includes plural devices that are interconnected. Each device includes one or more ports, classified as node ports (N_Ports), fabric ports (F_Ports), and expansion ports (E_Ports). Node ports may be located in a node device, e.g. server 103, disk array 105 and storage device 104. Fabric ports are located in fabric devices such as switch 101 and 102. Arbitrated loop 106 may be operationally coupled to switch 101 using arbitrated loop ports (FL_Ports).

The devices of FIG. 1A are operationally coupled via “links” or “paths”. A path may be established between two N_ports, e.g. between server 103 and storage 104. A packet-switched path may be established using multiple links, e.g. an N-Port in server 103 may establish a path with disk array 105 through switch 102.

Fabric Switch Element

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a 20-port ASIC fabric element according to one aspect of the present invention. FIG. 1B provides the general architecture of a 20-channel switch chassis using the 20-port fabric element. Fabric element includes ASIC 20 with non-blocking fibre channel class 2 (connectionless, acknowledged) and class 3 (connectionless, unacknowledged) service between any ports. It is noteworthy that ASIC 20 may also be designed for class 1 (connection-oriented) service, within the scope and operation of the present invention as described herein.

The fabric element of the present invention is presently implemented as a single CMOS ASIC, and for this reason the term “fabric element” and ASIC are used interchangeably to refer to the preferred embodiments in this specification. Although FIG. 1B shows 20 ports, the present invention is not limited to any particular number of ports.

ASIC 20 has 20 ports numbered in FIG. 1B as GL0 through GL19. These ports are generic to common Fibre Channel port types, for example, F_Port, FL_Port and E-Port. In other words, depending upon what it is attached to, each GL port can function as any type of port. Also, the GL port may function as a special port useful in fabric element linking, as described below.

For illustration purposes only, all GL ports are drawn on the same side of ASIC 20 in FIG. 1B. However, the ports may be located on both sides of ASIC 20 as shown in other figures. This does not imply any difference in port or ASIC design. Actual physical layout of the ports will depend on the physical layout of the ASIC.

Each port GL0-GL19 has transmit and receive connections to switch crossbar 50. One connection is through receive buffer 52, which functions to receive and temporarily hold a frame during a routing operation. The other connection is through a transmit buffer 54.

Switch crossbar 50 includes a number of switch crossbars for handling specific types of data and data flow control information. For illustration purposes only, switch crossbar 50 is shown as a single crossbar. Switch crossbar 50 is a connectionless crossbar (packet switch) of known conventional design, sized to connect 21×21 paths. This is to accommodate 20 GL ports plus a port for connection to a fabric controller, which may be external to ASIC 20.

In the preferred embodiments of switch chassis described herein, the fabric controller is a firmware-programmed microprocessor, also referred to as the input/out processor (“IOP”). IOP 66 is shown in FIG. 1C as a part of a switch chassis utilizing one or more of ASIC 20. As seen in FIG. 1B, bi-directional connection to IOP 66 is routed through port 67, which connects internally to a control bus 60. Transmit buffer 56, receive buffer 58, control register 62 and Status register 64 connect to bus 60. Transmit buffer 56 and receive buffer 58 connect the internal connectionless switch crossbar 50 to IOP 66 so that it can source or sink frames.

Control register 62 receives and holds control information from IOP 66, so that IOP 66 can change characteristics or operating configuration of ASIC 20 by placing certain control words in register 62. IOP 66 can read status of ASIC 20 by monitoring various codes that are placed in status register 64 by monitoring circuits (not shown).

FIG. 1C shows a 20-channel switch chassis S2 using ASIC 20 and IOP 66. S2 will also include other elements, for example, a power supply (not shown). The 20 GL ports correspond to channel C0-C19. Each GL port has a serial/deserializer (SERDES) designated as S0-S19. Ideally, the SERDES functions are implemented on ASIC 20 for efficiency, but may alternatively be external to each GL port.

Each GL port has an optical-electric converter, designated as OE0-OE19 connected with its SERDES through serial lines, for providing fibre optic input/output connections, as is well known in the high performance switch design. The converters connect to switch channels C0-C19. It is noteworthy that the ports can connect through copper paths or other means instead of optical-electric converters.

FIG. 1D shows a block diagram of ASIC 20 with sixteen GL ports and four 10 G (Gigabyte) port control modules designated as XG0-XG3 for four 10G ports designated as XGP0-XGP3. ASIC 20 include a control port 62A that is coupled to IOP 66 through a PCI connection 66A.

FIG. 1E-1/1E-2 (jointly referred to as FIG. 1E) show yet another block diagram of ASIC 20 with sixteen GL and four XG port control modules. Each GL port control module has a Receive port (RPORT) 69 with a receive buffer (RBUF) 69A and a transmit port 70 with a transmit buffer (TBUF) 70A, as described below in detail. GL and XG port control modules are coupled to physical media devices (“PMD”) 76 and 75 respectively.

Control port module 62A includes control buffers 62B and 62D for transmit and receive sides, respectively. Module 62A also includes a PCI interface module 62C that allows interface with IOP 66 via a PCI bus 66A.

XG_Port (for example 74B) includes RPORT 72 with RBUF 71 similar to RPORT 69 and RBUF 69A and a TBUF and TPORT similar to TBUF 70A and TPORT 70. Protocol module 73 interfaces with SERDES to handle protocol based functionality.

GL Port:

FIGS. 3A-3B (referred to as FIG. 3) show a detailed block diagram of a GL port as used in ASIC 20. GL port 300 is shown in three segments, namely, receive segment (RPORT) 310, transmit segment (TPORT) 312 and common segment 311.

Receive Segment of GL Port:

Frames enter through link 301 and SERDES 302 converts data into 10-bit parallel data to fibre channel characters, which are then sent to receive pipe (“Rpipe” (may also be shown as “Rpipe1” or “Rpipe2”)) 303A via a de-multiplexer (DEMUX) 303. Rpipe 303A includes, parity module 305 and decoder 304. Decoder 304 decodes 10B data to 8B and parity module 305 adds a parity bit. Rpipe 303A also performs various Fibre Channel standard functions such as detecting a start of frame (SOF), end-of frame (EOF), Idles, R_RDYs (fibre channel standard primitive) and the like, which are not described since they are standard functions.

Rpipe 303A connects to smoothing FIFO (SMF) module 306 that performs smoothing functions to accommodate clock frequency variations between remote transmitting and local receiving devices.

Frames received by RPORT 310 are stored in receive buffer (RBUF) 69A, (except for certain Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (AL) frames). Path 309 shows the frame entry path, and all frames entering path 309 are written to RBUF 69A as opposed to the AL path 308.

Cyclic redundancy code (CRC) module 313 further processes frames that enter GL port 300 by checking CRC and processing errors according to FC_PH rules. The frames are subsequently passed to RBUF 69A where they are steered to an appropriate output link. RBUF 69A is a link receive buffer and can hold multiple frames.

Reading from and writing to RBUF 69A are controlled by RBUF read control logic (“RRD”) 319 and RBUF write control logic (“RWT”) 307, respectively. RWT 307 specifies which empty RBUF 69A slot will be written into when a frame arrives through the data link via multiplexer (“Mux”) 313B, CRC generate module 313A and EF (external proprietary format) module 314. EF_module 314 encodes proprietary (i.e. non-standard) format frames to standard Fibre Channel 8B codes. Mux 313B receives input from Rx Spoof module 314A, which encodes frames to an proprietary format (if enabled). RWT 307 controls RBUF 69A write addresses and provides the slot number to tag writer (“TWT”) 317.

RRD 319 processes frame transfer requests from RBUF 69A. Frames may be read out in any order and multiple destinations may get copies of the frames.

Steering state machine (SSM) 316 receives frames and determines the destination for forwarding the frame. SSM 316 produces a destination mask, where there is one bit for each destination. Any bit set to a certain value, for example, 1, specifies a legal destination, and there can be multiple bits set, if there are multiple destinations for the same frame (multicast or broadcast).

SSM 316 makes this determination using information from alias cache 315, steering registers 316A, control register 326 values and frame contents. IOP 66 writes all tables so that correct exit path is selected for the intended destination port addresses.

The destination mask from SSM 316 is sent to TWT 317 and a RBUF tag register (RTAG) 318. TWT 317 writes tags to all destinations specified in the destination mask from SSM 316. Each tag identifies its corresponding frame by containing an RBUF 69A slot number where the frame resides, and an indication that the tag is valid.

Each slot in RBUF 69A has an associated set of tags, which are used to control the availability of the slot. The primary tags are a copy of the destination mask generated by SSM 316. As each destination receives a copy of the frame, the destination mask in RTAG 318 is cleared. When all the mask bits are cleared, it indicates that all destinations have received a copy of the frame and that the corresponding frame slot in RBUF 69A is empty and available for a new frame.

RTAG 318 also has frame content information that is passed to a requesting destination to pre-condition the destination for the frame transfer. These tags are transferred to the destination via a read multiplexer (RMUX) (not shown).

Transmit Segment of GL Port:

Transmit segment (“TPORT”) 312 performs various transmit functions. Transmit tag register (TTAG) 330 provides a list of all frames that are to be transmitted. Tag Writer 317 or common segment 311 write TTAG 330 information. The frames are provided to arbitration module (“transmit arbiter” (“TARB”)) 331, which is then free to choose which source to process and which frame from that source to be processed next.

TTAG 330 includes a collection of buffers (for example, buffers based on a first-in first out (“FIFO”) scheme) for each frame source. TTAG 330 writes a tag for a source and TARB 331 then reads the tag. For any given source, there are as many entries in TTAG 330 as there are credits in RBUF 69A.

TARB 331 is activated anytime there are one or more valid frame tags in TTAG 330. TARB 331 preconditions its controls for a frame and then waits for the frame to be written into TBUF 70A. After the transfer is complete, TARB 331 may request another frame from the same source or choose to service another source.

TBUF 70A is the path to the link transmitter. Typically, frames don't land in TBUF 70A in their entirety. Mostly, frames simply pass through TBUF 70A to reach output pins, if there is a clear path.

Switch Mux 332 is also provided to receive output from crossbar 50. Switch Mux 332 receives input from plural RBUFs (shown as RBUF 00 to RBUF 19), and input from CPORT 62A shown as CBUF 1 frame/status. TARB 331 determines the frame source that is selected and the selected source provides the appropriate slot number. The output from Switch Mux 332 is sent to ALUT 323 for S_ID spoofing and the result is fed into TBUF Tags 333.

TMUX (“TxMux”) 339 chooses which data path to connect to the transmitter. The sources are: primitive sequences specified by IOP 66 via control registers 326 (shown as primitive 339A), and signals as specified by Transmit state machine (“TSM”) 346, frames following the loop path, or steered frames exiting the fabric via TBUF 70A.

TSM 346 chooses the data to be sent to the link transmitter, and enforces all fibre Channel rules for transmission. TSM 346 receives requests to transmit from loop state machine 320, TBUF 70A (shown as TARB request 346A) and from various other IOP 66 functions via control registers 326 (shown as IBUF Request 345A). TSM 346 also handles all credit management functions, so that Fibre Channel connectionless frames are transmitted only when there is link credit to do so.

Loop state machine (“LPSM”) 320 controls transmit and receive functions when GL_Port is in a loop mode. LPSM 320 operates to support loop functions as specified by FC-AL-2.

IOP buffer (“IBUF”) 345 provides IOP 66 the means for transmitting frames for special purposes.

Frame multiplexer (“Frame Mux”) 336 chooses the frame source, while logic (TX spoof 334) converts D_ID and S_ID from public to private addresses. Frame Mux 336 receives input from Tx Spoof module 334, TBUF tags 333, and Mux 335 to select a frame source for transmission.

EF module 338 encodes proprietary (i.e. non-standard) format frames to standard Fibre Channel 8B codes and CRC module 337 generates CRC data for the outgoing frames.

Modules 340-343 put a selected transmission source into proper format for transmission on an output link 344. Parity 340 checks for parity errors, when frames are encoded from 8B to 10B by encoder 341, marking frames “invalid”, according to Fibre Channel rules, if there was a parity error. Phase FIFO 342A receives frames from encode module 341 and the frame is selected by Mux 342 and passed to SERDES 343. SERDES 343 converts parallel transmission data to serial before passing the data to the link media. SERDES 343 may be internal or external to ASIC 20.

Common Segment of GL Port:

As discussed above, ASIC 20 include common segment 311 comprising of various modules. LPSM 320 has been described above and controls the general behavior of TPORT 312 and RPORT 310.

A loop look up table (“LLUT”) 322 and an address look up table (“ALUT”) 323 is used for private loop proxy addressing and hard zoning managed by firmware.

Common segment 311 also includes control register 326 that controls bits associated with a GL_Port, status register 324 that contains status bits that can be used to trigger interrupts, and interrupt mask register 325 that contains masks to determine the status bits that will generate an interrupt to IOP 66. Common segment 311 also includes AL control and status register 328 and statistics register 327 that provide accounting information for FC management information base (“MIB”).

Output from status register 324 may be used to generate a Fp Peek function. This allows a status register 324 bit to be viewed and sent to the CPORT.

Output from control register 326, statistics register 327 and register 328 (as well as 328A for an X_Port, shown in FIG. 4) is sent to Mux 329 that generates an output signal (FP Port Reg Out).

Output from Interrupt register 325 and status register 324 is sent to logic 335 to generate a port interrupt signal (FP Port Interrupt).

BIST module 321 is used for conducting embedded memory testing.

XG Port

FIGS. 4A-4B (referred to as FIG. 4) show a block diagram of a 10 G Fibre Channel port control module (XG FPORT) 400 used in ASIC 20. Various components of XG FPORT 400 are similar to GL port control module 300 that are described above. For example, RPORT 310 and 310A, Common Port 311 and 311A, and TPORT 312 and 312A have common modules as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with similar functionality.

RPORT 310A can receive frames from links (or lanes) 301A-301D and transmit frames to lanes 344A-344D. Each link has a SERDES (302A-302D), a de-skew module, a decode module (303B-303E) and parity module (304A-304D). Each lane also has a smoothing FIFO (SMF) module 305A-305D that performs smoothing functions to accommodate clock frequency variations. Parity errors are checked by module 403, while CRC errors are checked by module 404.

RPORT 310A uses a virtual lane (“VL”) cache 402 that stores plural vector values that are used for virtual lane assignment. In one aspect of the present invention, VL Cache 402 may have 32 entries and two vectors per entry. IOP 66 is able to read or write VL cache 402 entries during frame traffic. State machine 401 controls credit that is received. On the transmit side, credit state machine 347 controls frame transmission based on credit availability. State machine 347 interfaces with credit counters 328A.

Also on the transmit side, modules 340-343 are used for each lane 344A-344D, i.e., each lane can have its own module 340-343. Parity module 340 checks for parity errors and encode module 341 encodes 8-bit data to 10 bit data. Mux 342B sends the 10-bit data to a smoothing FIFO (“TxSMF”) module 342 that handles clock variation on the transmit side. SERDES 343 then sends the data out to the link.

Credit Limiting Feature:

In one aspect of the present invention, a transmit queue in TTAG 330 (in TPORT 311A and/or 311) uses a Quality of Service (QOS) register 512 (FIG. 5) that can be programmed by IOP 66 to enable frame transmission based on the innovative credit limiting feature of the present invention. When used for credit limiting, QOS register 512 can be programmed with the number of R_RDY signals each queue has to wait to be received after transmitting two frames.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic of logic 500 that is used for using credit limitation as a parameter to avoid frame congestion in a fibre channel switch. Logic 500 is to illustrate the adaptive aspects of the present invention and not to limit the present invention to the logic scheme of FIG. 5.

Credit counter 328A counts the number of credits that are outstanding without receiving a corresponding R_RDY 510. The value of credit counter 328A at a given time is compared by logic 501A to threshold value 501, for example, “0003”. If the counter 328A value is greater than or equal to the threshold value 501, then the result is used to enable the “credit limiting” feature of the present invention. This feature may be cleared by using signal 507 at a pre-determined time interval, for example, 10 milli-seconds, as shown in FIG. 5. It is noteworthy that the present invention is not limited to any particular time interval.

Routing frames using the credit-limiting feature is enabled by setting a bit 508 in control register 326 and using a start counter 503 that counts when a frame departs based on input 502. The start counter 503 increments to its maximum value, and hold this maximum value for as long as the threshold value 501 comparison permits. With the start counter at the maximum value, logic 504 and 505 are used to generate a “Credit_Limiting_State” signal 506 that enables the use of “credit limiting” for frame transmission. Based on signal 506, the credit_limiting bit 508 is set in control register 326, which enables logic 515 to block frame transmission at a port, based on available credit (i.e. “credit limiting” feature). Logic 515 exists for each source FIFO in TTAG 330.

Blocking counter 511 receives bit 508 from control register 326, frame depart signal 502 and counts the number of R_RDYs 510 or VC_RDYs 509 that are received by the port, since the last frame that was sent by the port. Counter 511 increments when a R_RDY 510 (or VC_RDY 509) is received (unless the counter is at its maximum value) and cleared based on input 502/and when the counter is at its maximum value.

QOS register 512 can be programmed with a particular threshold value 512A. This threshold value 512A includes the number of R_RDYs 510 a port should receive after sending a frame from that source FIFO, before the next frame can be sent from the same FIFO. Threshold value 512A is compared by logic 513 with counter value 511A. If counter value 511A is greater than or equal to QOS register value 512A, then the frame is sent. If the counter value 511A is less than QOS register value 512A then a “block TTAG” signal 514 is generated that blocks frame transmission from that source FIFO.

It is noteworthy that counter 511 is not limited to being an incrementing counter with a “reset”. Counter 511 may be set to QOS register value 512A when a frame is sent and is decremented when an R_RDY is received, unless the counter value 511A is zero. In this case frames can be sent when counter 511 is at zero (i.e. transmit credit is at its maximum).

It is noteworthy that if virtual lanes are used, then VC_RDYs 509 are processed the same way as R_RDY 510.

Process Flow:

FIG. 6 shows a process flow diagram by using the credit-limiting feature to reduce congestion in a Fibre Channel system. Turning in detail to FIG. 6, in step S600, the process enables the “credit-limiting” feature. As discussed above, this may be achieved by setting a bit 508 in control register 326. This feature is enabled when congestion is detected at a port.

In step S601, the process compares received R_RDY 510 (or VC_RDY 509) value (511A) with a programmed threshold value 512A. If the counter value is equal or greater than threshold value 512A, then in step S602, the frames are transmitted, or otherwise the frames are blocked.

As discussed above, the process for handling R_RDYs and VC_RDYs is the same.

Turning back to the example in FIG. 2, credit-limiting feature can be used for port 204 to improve performance. QOS register 512 in port 204 for source port 202 can be set to 7, while the QOS register 512 at port 204 from source port 201 can be set to zero. This will result in twice as many frames being sent from host 201 as from host 202 (with the slow destination, target 208). Hence frames for target 208 will arrive at port 205 at a slow enough rate that they can be sent to the destination as fast as they arrive. This will allow link 209 to operate at full speed.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these embodiments are illustrative only and not limiting. Many other applications and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent in light of this disclosure and the following claims. 

1. A method for routing fibre channel frames using a fibre channel switch element, comprising: enabling a credit limiting feature, wherein frame transmission from a certain source is delayed when the credit limiting feature is enabled.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a credit counter value is compared to a threshold value and the comparison is used to enable the credit-limiting feature.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein a counter is incremented every time a frame departs and holds its maximum value based on the threshold value.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein when the counter is at the maximum value, a credit-limiting signal is used to enable the credit limiting feature by setting a control bit in a control register.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the counter is cleared at a programmed interval.
 6. A method for routing fibre channel frames using a fibre channel switch element, comprising: determining if a credit limiting feature is enabled; incrementing a counter value after a R_RDY is received when a frame departs; comparing the counter value with a threshold value; and blocking frame transmission from a particular source based on the comparison between the counter value and the threshold value.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein a control bit from a control register enables the credit limiting feature.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the counter value increments if a VC_RDY is received.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the threshold value is programmed in a register.
 10. The method of claim 6, frame transmission is blocked if the counter value is greater or equal to the threshold value.
 11. A fibre channel switch element for routing fibre channel frames, comprising: logic for comparing a credit counter value with a first threshold value to enable a credit limiting feature; and a first counter that receives a signal after a frame has departed from a transmit segment and maintains a maximum value for a certain duration that is based on the first threshold value.
 12. The switch element of claim 11, further comprising: logic for generating a credit limiting signal to set a control bit value that enables the credit limiting feature.
 13. The switch element of claim 11, further comprising: a blocking counter that maintains a count for a number of R-RDYs that are received after a frame has departed; and logic for comparing the blocking counter value with a second threshold value and generating a signal for blocking frame transmission from a particular source port based on the comparison.
 14. The switch element of claim 13, wherein the blocking counter maintains a count for a number of VC-RDYs that are received after a frame has departed.
 15. The switch element of claim 13, wherein a blocking signal is generated if the blocking counter value is greater or equal to the second threshold value.
 16. The method of claim 2, wherein the threshold value may be different for individual source ports.
 17. The method of claim 6, wherein the threshold value may be different for individual source ports.
 18. The switch element of claim 11, wherein the threshold value may be different for individual source ports. 